Sir Alex Ferguson is no longer the manager of Manchester United and yet, perhaps for the last time, the eyes of the world were on him earlier today. Or more specifically, the ears of the world were arched in anticipation for his ghost-written revelations.

Speaking at the launch of his new autobiography, Ferguson spoke candidly about a plethora of issues ranging from his feelings towards rival managers to his admission that Mesut Ozil was never on his radar because he did not envisage the German becoming a number 10.

He was revelatory and jocular in equal measure, reemphasising his feelings towards Wayne Rooney having earlier made a quick but insightful jibe at his former friends at Sky.

But if one thing was clear from watching the former United boss hold court, it was that he is missed. Even, one suspects, by those who only miss disliking him.

David Moyes is not Ferguson. And while we knew that from the start, the fleeting return of his predecessor only highlighted the former Everton man’s problems.

Talking about United’s current form Ferguson said, “Manchester United are the only team that can win that league coming from behind. They will be fine.”

The fans he bid farewell to last May will certainly hope so.

Despite Ferguson’s reassertion that Rooney asked for a transfer at the end of last season, the Daily Mail claims the England striker is not concerned by the stories.

The paper quotes sources close to the star, and it is a feeling backed up by Ferguson himself, who said, “I think Wayne is completely focused on his football. He has been since the first day of pre-season.”

As United prepare to face Real Sociedad tomorrow evening, the Guardian reports that Adnan Januzaj has trained with the squad having been made available for the Champions League group stage.

The winger sat out his club’s first two matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Shakhtar Donetsk due to a technicality. But he could now feature at Old Trafford in a match United really have to win to secure a safe and relatively easy passage into the knockout stages.

We predicted United’s line-up earlier today, and our feeling was that Januzaj would not make the starting XI on this occasion.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. He has worked for HITC for four years and is now Head of Editorial and Journalist Standards.